John 11:28 - Exposition

When she had said this , £ she departed, and called Mary her sister secretly. Observe the important emendation of text from ταῦτα to τοῦτο . When she had made this great utterance, her heart is big with hope. The grim shadow of death is now transparent to a heavenly light. She must share her hope with her sister. Jesus gave the commission to fetch Mary, as is obvious from the words of Martha which follow. The term "secretly" ( λάθρα ), when elsewhere used, precedes the verb with which it is associated, and therefore here it is joined with εἰποῦσα , whispering to her, lest the hostile Jews should hear and intercept the interview. The Master (the Teacher) used absolutely (cf. John 13:13 )— is here, and calleth for thee. Sacred summons! Martha expected (as Euthymius suggested) that some blessing might come from his words.